[Thor]

Ok so here is my response to the questions I put forth, ironically when I posted this I didnt even consider what my own responses would be, so here are those:

1. Are you vocal about your atheism or do you shy away when religious discussion occur?

I am not actively seeking debate, but I do not shy away from it when the issue comes up. I certainly find myself giving DVD's of documentaries and sending links of great atheistic books to my friends who are of course of the same belief.

2. Do you politely agree to baptisms, circumcisions, weddings in churches, etc.. In order to appease religious family or societal pressures?

Well I misworded this question, heres my reply to it and what I intended (the agreement to your own personal life, your own kids, your own marriage, etc..)

I will always attend friends weddings, funerals, etc.. I do this simply to be there for the importance of such events, but my friends clearly understand my own views of these events. I would never be married in a church or by a priest. I would never allow the butchery of circumcision as we know it; it does damage, hurts sensitivity and is a pretty barbaric thing to do to a baby boy. The origins of Circumcision are also at best ridiculous and most people polled in the USA about it do it for 'looks' and not much else. Again IF god created man in his image, why do we cut up his image with a violent and damaging procedure to his baby boys?

3. Considering the state of the world today with radicalism in religion from the USA to Iran at a noticeably growing rate, do you feel more responsibility to speak your beliefs and fight to spread atheism to friends/family?

I've grown up with mostly Atheistic friends, and most of my family. I always had the belief that I was not going to be like religious people and not push my beliefs on anyone. What harm could religion do? Well as I've grown older, the effects of religion are no longer something I can sit back as a polite Atheist and sit idly by. I will not preach or force my beliefs, but I won't sit quietly by anymore considering we have the 3 great monotheisms focused on spreading their agendas on all the world.

Its no longer, "believe what you want." ...... The truth is there is movements in the USA who are teaching lawyers to fight for jesus (jesus camp) and to change US law such as abortion laws. There are plenty of religious movements fighting to tell you and me what laws and rules we all have to live by.

We don't start a movement by hiding our beliefs and we don't get anywhere by hiding and conforming to a society ruled by theistic rule.

4. Are you as an Atheist looking for a more focused plan and leadership online or locally to focus your efforts? Or would you prefer to not be involved in any Atheistic movements?

I am starting to get more involved, to be honest I was like most Atheists where I felt a movement was much like religion and therefore it was something wrong for our belief system. I see know that promoting truth, critical thinking, reasoning, healthy skepticism/debate, etc.. is not a bad thing! If the world isn't exposed to the option of religion and that smart sensible people are not speaking out then obviously we rely on religion beating itself up which of course it will do as more people become educated and truly examine the nonsense of the bible and its beginnings.

5. Finally, are you optimistic that hundred's of years from now religion will be much less of an influence on this world or are you of the belief that we are going to be under religious influence for a long long time to come?

I'm unsure. A good portion of the evangelicals see the 2nd coming of Jesus as a near future situation. So why bother worrying about war, environment, etc.. In an age of incredible technology where we live longer, can cure amazingly difficult ailments, we still talk of Homeopathic medicine, and such nonsense from ancient times (which was just as bad then as it is now.)

Conclusion.

I've asked some close Atheist friends of mine, if you see a pretty candle light vigil with crosses, church music/chants, how could this be any harm?

The fact is religion is a slope. At the top of this slope we have extremism, and at the bottom we have Agnosticism.

Religion at its heart is about not thinking, its about not critically challenging the world, universe and all that surrounds us.

As an Atheist, I feel its no longer enough to sit idly by, because whether Atheists like it or not there are some KEY reasons why we need to be more vocal:

1. World Conflicts are almost always based on Theism. Atheists can and should speak out against conflicts based on people debating the existance and books of someone we know to be non existant.

2. In our daily lives, we have to see separate school systems be funded to support the indoctrination that religion insists upon. It supports separation of our children, and is harmful to our future.

3. Ultimately going to church, Christmas, funerals, etc.. They seem harmless, but ultimately we are in a war of thought. Those on one side blindly agree to a book (while usually ignoring the silly parts,) while others choose a rational and skeptical approach. Science isn't perfect, but it encourages thought, debate, and reasoning. Religion opposes all of this.

If you quietly go through life not challenging these things as an Atheist, then you are only helping religion continue its strangle hold on curiosity, the scientific method, and the future of our species.

I was never interested in activism, but when our daily lives are threatened by the religious world I think its our duty to at least respond to the threat.